News Releases

REF NO.: 245

SUBJECT:

Memorial University Alumni elect board members

DATE:

Aug. 21, 2008

The Memorial University Alumni Association’s election of alumni representatives on Memorial’s Board of Regents wrapped up Aug. 18 with six members elected. Receiving the most votes of 39 nominees were Julie Browne, Jennifer Guy (Davis), Rex Gibbons, John Hogan, Ken Marshall and Eleanor Swanson.

Julie Browne (B.Eng.'08) works as a production engineer with Husky Energy in Calgary. As an engineering student at Memorial, she was an active volunteer, serving on the Student Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Women in Science and Engineering Undergraduate Program. Ms. Browne was the recipient of the Afshin Assemi Memorial Award for her contribution to the betterment of student life.

Jennifer Guy (Davis) (BA'84) spent 20 years as a journalist with CBC. She moved on to a career in public relations with St. Clare’s Hospital and the General Hospital in St. John’s and had a seven-year tenure as executive director of public affairs and communications with the Ontario Medical Association. Ms. Guy recently spent five years in the United Arab Emirates where she worked in international business development.

Rex Gibbons (BAE'67, B.Sc.'67, M.Sc.'69) completed three degrees at Memorial and earned a PhD in geology from the alifornia Institute of Technology in 1974. After two years at the Johnson Space Centre, he returned to Newfoundland and joined the Department of Mines and Energy where he worked for well over a decade when he resigned to run in the provincial election. Dr. Gibbons served as a provincial MHA from 1989 to 1997 during which time he was minister of Mines and Energy. Following his political career, he worked with Jacques Whitford Ltd. and retired in 2007. He served as an elected alumni representative on the board from 1979-1982.

John Hogan (B.Sc.'00) is an associate in the St. John’s law office of Cox and Palmer practicing in the area of insurance litigation. A graduate of the Dalhousie Law School and Memorial’s biochemistry program, Mr. Hogan was called to the Ontario bar in 2004 and the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in 2005.

Ken Marshall (B.Comm. honours (Co-op)'84) is regional president - Atlantic Canada for Rogers Cable Communications Inc. He has been with Rogers Cable for 18 years. Mr. Marshall also worked in Montreal with the Institute of Canadian Bankers, developing courses for bankers in North America and the Caribbean. He is no stranger to Memorial University, as his first job after graduation was as a lecturer with the Faculty of Business Administration. He holds an MBA from Dalhousie University to go with his bachelor of commerce from Memorial. In 2005, he was named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Business Magazine, and in 2007 was awarded Memorial’s Faculty of Business Alumni Honour Award.

Eleanor Swanson (M.Ed.'77) is the director of health promotion and wellness with the provincial Department of Health and Community Services. A trained dietitian and nutritionist, Ms. Swanson has served on the Board of Regents for the past three years as an alumni representative. She established the Greg Campbell Memorial Scholarship at Memorial in memory of her late husband and recently added the Eric Swanson Scholarship in Earth Science to celebrate her father’s long life and career.

The Memorial University Alumni Association includes more than 60,000 graduates. They work with the university to provide the input and support of the alumni community through an alumni executive selected every three years.

The Board of Regents has 30 members, and Memorial alumni elect six. They serve for a three-year term which begins Sept. 1, 2008.

The management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of Memorial University are vested in the Board of Regents.